Intrastate Adoption or Interstate Adoption

One way of classifying all domestic adoptions is to view them as an intrastate adoption or an interstate adoption. You can participate in either one but there is at least two critical differences you need to be aware of.

Defining Intrastate Adoption and Interstate Adoption

An Intrastate child adoption takes place when the birth mother and baby reside in the same state as you. In an intrastate adoption the child being adopted does not have to be taken
across state lines as part to the placement and adoption.

An interstate child adoption takes place when the birth mother and baby reside in a different state than you. In an interstate adoption, the child is taken form one state to another state with the intention being an adoption placement.

Intrastate and Interstate Adoption Distinctions

The distinctions between Intrastate and Interstate Child Adoption is very important since each type of adoption requires a different set of legal requirements.
The main differences are that in an intrastate adoption you must meet the requirements of only one state while an interstate adoption must meet the requirements of at least two states as well as the requirements of the Interstate
Compact Act.

In both types of adoption it is very important you have a Home Study completed prior to taking custody of a child, but in an interstate placement it is a critical necessity.

Once you have taken physical custody of the child, you can take the baby to your home if it is an intrastate adoption. However, if it is an interstate adoption you can not take the child out of the state where the child is a resident
until that state and your state of residence give there approval for the transfer. To receive this approval, your adoption agency or adoption attorney will file papers with the Interstate Compact Office located in both states. Until you get
approval, while you can travel wherever you want, the child can not cross the state line.

Another important distinction between the two types of adoption is that the laws and procedures of both states regarding the termination of the parental rights of the birth mother and birth father, the required post-placement supervisory
visits and the finalization of the adoption need to be looked at and addressed.

Additional Resources

We at Adoption Services have extensive experience with both intrastate and interstate adoption. We are here to help you determine the best choice for you and then to help implement your choices in a way that will eliminate problems
and concerns. We are able to help you with an adoption regardless of the state in which you reside but we are able to complete a Home Study only for residents of PA, NJ, NY, VA, WV, and FL.

There are many risks when you go to adopt a child including losing a child after you have already taken them home (referred to as a disruption), loosing all of the money you have invested in the adoption if the birth mother changes her mind, or finding that there are previously unknown or undisclosed fees that may appear. Dr Berger has helped thousands of adopting families
with domestic adoptions and international adoptions and he is available to assist you no matter what type of adoption you chose to pursue and regardless of whether you work with an adoption agency, facilitator or adoption attorney. He can help you save your time, effort and money in helping you to decide what routes to take and the best way to achieve your goal of adopting a child. He
can help reduce your risks and potential pain and can help you avoid many of the problems and pitfalls found in the adoption process. You can read and download his free adoption manual or, for more information on how he can help you, please visit his Adoption Consultant link.

We Help Adopting Persons Living in Any State

We are licensed in multiple states and are able to help a birth mother, birth father, and adopting family living in any of the 50 U.S. states.